In the midst of a state of disaster due to COVID-19, on Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf renewed another disaster declaration — the one over the opioid epidemic. First issued in January 2018, the 11th renewal of the 90-day disaster declaration allows the state to loosen regulations, such as allowing first responders to leave naloxone behind on the scene of overdoses.
Sadly, the disaster declaration is as relevant now as it was when it was first signed.
…
Emergency department visits in Philadelphia due to overdose have been significantly higher since March compared with the same period last year.
The increase in overdoses matches reports from all over the U.S. about spikes in overdoses since stay-at-home orders have been enacted.
Contributing factors include a growing sense of despair due to loss and economic recession and social distancing’s impact on outreach and recovery programs.
Overdose deaths rose 5% last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing roughly 72,000 Americans.
…
Giroir noted that COVID-19 and the addiction crisis are hitting people of color especially hard, often in communities that lack access to affordable health care and addiction treatment.
„The manifestations of our historic disparities are really just in everyone’s face right now,“ he said.
